2023 Mississippi State Fair and 2024 Dixie National Junior Round-Up: Dairy Goat Division

Reminders and Important Dates

Reminders

The rules in the current year’s Mississippi State Fair or Dixie National Junior Round-Up Premium book supersede any rules published previously in a Mississippi State Fair or Dixie National Junior Round-Up Premium book or in this publication. [New rules and regulations passed by the Mississippi Livestock Council Show directors will be in brackets throughout this book.]

An official show veterinarian from the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine will be on site during the junior livestock shows.

General Show and Animal Health Reminders:

• Health certificate from a veterinarian is required to get on fairgrounds
• 60-day health record forms are uploaded in MSU livestock show check-in app used for checking in all livestock

Important Dates

Ownership of animal – September 1, 2023 (Friday)

• Ownership for both Mississippi State Fair/Dixie National
  • Market Steers, Market Lambs, Market Goats, Market Hair Sheep
• Ownership for Mississippi State Fair
  • Beef Breeding Animals, Commercial and Dairy Breeding Females, Commercial Beef Heifers, Market Hogs, Commercial Meat Goat Does, Wether Dams, Commercial and Registered Dairy Goats, Breeding Hair Sheep, Registered Breeding Boer Does

Entries must be submitted to county Extension office by Friday, September 1, 2023.

Classification/DNA Hair Collection Week, September 11–13, 2023

• Monday, September 11: Hattiesburg – 8 a.m–2 p.m.
• Tuesday, September 12: Raymond – 8 a.m–2 p.m.
• Wednesday, September 13: Greenwood – 8 a.m–11 a.m.
• Wednesday, September 13: Oxford – 2 p.m–6 p.m.

Mississippi State Fair, Jackson – October 4–15, 2023

Ownership of animal – Friday, December 1, 2023

• Ownership for Dixie National Junior Round-Up
  • Beef Breeding Animals, Commercial and Dairy Breeding Females, Market Hogs, Mississippi Bred Barrows, Commercial and Registered Dairy Goats, Commercial Beef Heifers, Wether Dams, Commercial Gilts, Commercial Meat Goat Does, Breeding Hair Sheep, Registered Breeding Boer Does

Entries must be submitted to county Extension office by Friday, December 1, 2023

Classification/DNA Hair Collection Week, December 11–14, 2023

• Monday, December 11: Hattiesburg – 8 a.m–2 p.m.
• Tuesday, December 12: Raymond – 8 a.m–2 p.m.
• Wednesday, December 13: Greenwood – 8 a.m–2 p.m.
• Thursday, December 14: Oxford – 8 a.m–12 p.m.

District Livestock Shows

• NW District Show, Batesville – January 18–20, 2024
• NE District Show, Verona – January 19–20, 2024
• SE District Show, Hattiesburg – January 18–20, 2024
• SW District Show, Jackson – January 18–20/29–30, 2024
• Delta District Show, Greenwood – January 22–24, 2024

Dixie National Junior Round-Up, January 30–February 8, 2024

Dairy Goat Show

Superintendents

Lance Newman, MSU Extension–Interim Northwest Regional Extension Coordinator

Jennifer Williams, MSU Extension–Lincoln County

Tracy Robertson Boone, MSU Extension–Carroll County

Ownership/Entry Dates

• Commercial Dairy Goats (senior and junior): September 1, 2023 (Fair) and December 1, 2023 (District and DNJR)
• Registered Dairy Goats (senior and junior): September 1, 2023 (Fair) and December 1, 2023 (District and DNJR)

2023 State Fair Show Dates

• Dairy Goat Showmanship: Friday, October 13, 8 a.m.
• Commercial Senior Doe Show: Friday, October 13, following Dairy Goat Showmanship
• Commercial Junior Doe Show: Friday, October 13, following Commercial Senior Doe Show
• Registered Senior Doe Show: Friday, October 13, following Commercial Junior Doe Show
• Registered Junior Doe Show: Friday, October 13, following Senior Doe Show

2023 State Fair Deadlines for Entry at Show Using Check-in App

At the time of check-in at the Fair, all jointly owned animals must be changed to a single entry in the app so that the FFA or 4-H youth in that joint ownership will be declared as the individual who will show each animal in that show. The following list summarizes when weights are to be declared for all Commercial Dairy Goats, when Registered Dairy Goats are to be checked in using the app, along with uploading the 60-day 4-H Animal Health Record Form:

• Dairy Goat Showmanship: declare intent to participate by 5 p.m. on Thursday, October 12
• Commercial Dairy Goats (senior and junior): declare show weights by 5 p.m. on Thursday, October 12
• Registered Dairy Goats (senior and junior): declare animals at show by 5 p.m. on Thursday, October 12

2024 Dixie National Jr. Round-Up Show Dates

• Dairy Goat Showmanship: Wednesday, January 31, 8 a.m.
• Commercial Senior Doe Show: Wednesday, January 31, following Dairy Goat Showmanship
• Commercial Junior Doe Show: Wednesday, January 31, following Commercial Senior Doe Show
• Registered Senior Doe Show: Wednesday, January 31, following Commercial Junior Doe Show
• Registered Junior Doe Show: Wednesday, January 31, following Senior Doe Show

2024 DNJR Deadlines for Entry at Show Using Check-in App

At the time of check-in at DNJR, all jointly owned animals must be changed to a single entry in the app so that the FFA or 4-H youth in that joint ownership will be declared as the individual who will show each animal in that show. The following list summarizes when weights are to be declared for all Commercial Dairy Goats, when Registered Dairy Goats are to be checked in using the app, along with uploading the 60-day 4-H Animal Health Record Form:

• Dairy Goat Showmanship: declare intent to participate by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, January 30
• Commercial dairy goats (senior and junior): declare show weights by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, January 30
• Registered dairy goats (senior and junior): declare animals at show by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, January 30

Dairy Goat Showmanship

All showmanship rules listed in Extension Publication 3814-1 2023 Mississippi State Fair and 2024 DNJR: General Rules apply for Dairy Goat Showmanship in addition to the ones listed below.

Exhibitors will check in for Dairy Goat Showmanship on the dates and times listed above.

Exhibitor in showmanship classes must show their own animal.

• For Dairy Goat Showmanship at the Fair and DNJR, the exhibitor must have a Registered Dairy Goat or a Commercial Dairy Goat checked in to their respective show.

Order of Show for Dairy Goat Showmanship:

• For Dairy Goat Showmanship at the Fair and DNJR: Ages 8–9, 10–11, 12–13, 14–15, 16–18

Dairy Goat General Rules

Nominations

Exhibitors can nominate the number of registered and Commercial Dairy Goats they desire. At the Fair and DNJR, the number of animals that one can check in and exhibit is six dairy goats (combination of Registered Dairy Goats and Commercial Dairy Goats), not to exceed three entries per class. Nomination forms are due in the MSU Extension county office by the dates listed below. Nomination forms must be submitted by the Extension agent or agricultural education teacher verifying all goats are under their supervision.

• Fair deadline: September 1, 2023
• District and DNJR deadline: December 1, 2023

Exhibitors in the registered and Commercial Dairy Goat shows may enter dairy goat showmanship classes at the time of entry and confirm participation in showmanship using the online check-in app at the show.

Animal Health

In addition to the State Health Requirements found in the front part of this premium list, goats will be examined by the Fair/DNJR veterinarian, committee, or personnel for signs of infectious/contagious diseases, including but not limited to: sore mouth, pink eye, ringworm, and any evidence of abscesses, including enlarged lymph nodes or evidence of incised lymph nodes. Any of the above will be grounds for dismissal of the animal from the fairgrounds.

• Herd mates are also subject to dismissal. The decision to dismiss any animal will be made by the Fair/DNJR veterinarian, committee, and personnel. Please leave any questionable animal at home.

Horns

Does must be polled, dehorned, or disbudded with no scur re-growth to exceed 1 ½ above the skin line. Removal of horns is not allowed on the show grounds.

• At the Fair, any doe that places first or second in each class will have its horn length checked before re-entering the ring for any championship drive. Any doe with horns longer than allowed will be disqualified from the show.
• For DNJR, checking of horn length will be done at the District Shows and dairy goats eligible for District will be eligible for DNJR.

Eligibility of Animals

Registered Dairy Goats

All purebred dairy goats exhibited must be registered with the American Dairy Goat Association, American Goat Society, or Canadian Goat Society. The original registration or recording certificates for all purebred animals of all ages is required.

Recognized dairy goat breeds include Alpine, LaMancha, Nigerian Dwarf, Nubian, Oberhasli, Saanen, Sable, and Toggenburg.

Registered dairy does are not eligible for the Commercial Dairy Doe Show.

Any doe 24 months of age or over that has never freshened shall not be shown.

All animals must be accompanied by an original registration certificate showing the junior exhibitor owns that animal. Grade and Experimental animals must have the original nomination form listing the animal’s tattoos and other permanent identification signed by the Extension agent or agricultural education teacher.

• For the Fair and DNJR, exhibitors much check in their Registered Dairy Goats using the online web app check-in process following the dates/times listed in the Dairy Goat Division Section above.

Refer to original show rules regarding pending dairy cattle registration.

Commercial Dairy Goats

Animals eligible shall be a Non-Registered Grade Doe offspring of purebred dairy goats or dairy breed crosses. No does registered by a recognized breed association or with crosses of dairy and meat breeds are eligible to show in the Commercial Dairy Doe Show. Does exhibiting breed characteristics other than those of the major dairy goat breeds will not be allowed to show.

Does under 24 months of age who have never kidded are eligible for the junior Commercial Dairy Goat show. Does less than 24 months that have ever freshened, aged does that have ever freshened, or any does that are in milk will show in the senior Commercial Dairy Goat show.

Does shown in the Commercial Dairy Doe Show are not eligible to be shown in any other division at the Fair and DNJR.

Age of commercial does will be determined by the two pairs of permanent incisor teeth. Commercial does that have lost their four incisor teeth, but have no visible permanent incisors, are eligible to show as a Junior Doe.

• At the Fair, any commercial dairy doe that places first or second in its class will be mouthed before re-entering the show ring for a division championship drive. Any doe who fails to meet the mouthing criteria will be disqualified from the show.
• For DNJR, mouthing of commercial dairy does will be done at the District Shows and commercial dairy does eligible for District will be eligible for DNJR.

Commercial dairy goats must be identified with a clearly visible ear tag by the dates below.

• Fair deadline: September 1, 2023
• District/DNJR deadline: December 1, 2023

Weigh Limits for Commercial Dairy Goats

Certified scales will be available for weighing Commercial Dairy Goats as outlined in the schedule. Minimum weight requirement for Commercial Dairy Goat does is 30 pounds with no maximum weight.

• Exhibitors at the Fair and DNJR must declare the show weight of their Commercial Dairy Goats following the dates/times listed above in the Dairy Goat Division Section.

Weight Classes for Commercial Dairy Goats

Commercial junior dairy goats will be assigned to one of three classes based on weight (Lightweight; Mediumweight; Heavyweight) and commercial senior dairy goat does will be assigned to one of three classes based on weight (Lightweight; Mediumweight; Heavyweight). Show management will divide does into classes to distribute the weights in a practical manner. [There will be a Best Udder award for the Commercial Dairy Goat Show.]

Attire

All exhibitors showing animals in individual classes in the ring should wear white show uniforms. All other general attire rules in the general rules section are to be followed as well.

Stalling

Only animals entered in the show will be allowed to be penned in the barn.

• Bucks over 3 months old will not be permitted in the barn.
• Dairy goats will be released after showing and must be removed from pens.

Senior Doe Shows

Does less than 24 months that have ever freshened, aged does that have ever freshened, or any does that are in milk will show in the senior doe show. No mandatory milk out. However, over-distended udders will be discriminated against.

Fair and DNJR Breeds for Registered Dairy Goat Shows

• Alpine
• Nigerian Dwarf
• Nubian
• All Other Purebreds (AOP)
• Grades & Recorded Grades

Classes

• Under 2 years
• 2 years and under 3 years
• 3 years and under 4 years
• 4 years and under 5 years
• 5 years and older
• Champion Senior Doe (Highest rated Senior Doe from all Senior Doe class winners for each lot)
• Reserve Champion Senior Doe (Second highest rated Senior Doe from all Senior Doe class winners for each lot and the second-place winner from the same class as the Champion Senior Doe)
• Best in Show Senior Doe (Highest rated Senior Doe from Champion Senior Doe of each lot; will receive the Supreme Dairy Goat Exhibitor Scholarship from the Sale of Champions)
• Reserve Best in Show Senior Doe (Second-place winner from the same class as the highest rated Senior Doe eligible to show for Reserve Best in Show Senior Doe with other Champion Senior Does of each lot)
• Best Udder
• County Dairy Herd – four does that have ever freshened, all owned by [one or more junior] exhibitors from the same county. Basis of awards will be on the 3-2-1 basis (Blue, Red and White). Herds will not receive less than $30 for Blue and $20 for Red. White herds will not receive premium.

Junior Doe Shows

Does under 24 months that have never freshened.

Fair and DNJR Breeds for Registered Dairy Goat Shows

• Alpine
• Nigerian Dwarf
• Nubian
• All Other Purebreds (AOP)
• Grades & Recorded Grades

Classes

• Birth and under 3 months
• 3 months and under 6 months
• 6 months and under 8 months
• 8 months and under 12 months
• 12 months and under 18 months
• 18–24 months
• Champion Junior Doe (Highest rated Junior Doe from all Junior Doe class winners for each lot)
• Reserve Champion Junior Doe (Second-highest rated Junior Doe from all Junior Doe class winners for each lot and the second-place winner from the same class as the Champion Junior Doe)
• Best in Show Junior Doe (Highest rated Junior Doe from Champion Junior Doe of each lot)
• Reserve Best in Show Junior Doe (Second-place winner from same class as the highest rated Junior Doe eligible to show for Reserve
• Best in Show Junior Doe with other Champion Junior Does of each lot)

---

Publication 3814-4 (POD-08-23)

By Dean Jousan, PhD, Associate Extension Professor, Animal and Dairy Sciences, and Cobie Rutherford, Extension Instructor, Extension Center for 4-H Youth Development.